Gemotions

The air was thick with the scent of fried food and the chatter of shoppers, but Daniel felt detached from it all. He was focused, entirely, on the tattered teddy bear on the bottom shelf of a table overflowing with knick-knacks. The bear, missing an eye and with stuffing peeking out, was undeniably familiar.

He felt a deep sense of belonging, as if he had been searching for something and finally found it. His pulse quickened. He imagined the stories he had shared with this bear as a child. A soft, warm tingle spread from his head to his toes.

He knelt down, carefully scooping up the bear. He felt a childlike delight. "How much?" he asked the man, who was busy arguing with another customer. The man grunted a price that was ridiculously low.

Daniel paid without a second thought. As he walked away, a broad, silly grin stretched across his face. The world seemed to shimmer with color. He felt light enough to float away.